Enhancement of some physiological parameters in wheat plants affected by zinc foliar application and or bacterial biological bio-fertilizers

Abstract EN

Sterilized sandy soil was used in a pot experiment (irrigated with nutrient solution), in which wheat grains Triticum aestivum were grown for 60 days in green house controlled conditions.

Zinc was sprayed at levels (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) after 25 and 40 days on wheat leaves.

Bacterial isolates were added in soil at root zone.

Applying biofertilizers Azotobacter and/or Azospirillum could enhance wheat physiological response in presence of zinc foliar application particularly at 25 and 50 ppm more than at 100 and 200 ppm.

This response was more obvious when using both biofertilizers than using each alone.

Elevated zinc levels at 100 and 200 ppm had harmful effects and could be alleviated by the bio-fertilizers.

Adding zinc levels at 50 ppm increased the accumulation of nitrogen, magnesium, manganese, carbohydrates content, and total soluble protein in wheat shoots.

Lower levels of zinc positively affected photosynthesis, indole acetic acid and dry matter gain.

Adding 25 ppm zinc in presence of biofertilizers enhanced phosphorus content in shoots while potassium and zinc uptake was inversely proportional with all sprayed zinc levels.